Im a little stuck here Coolsat 8000 and BUDFTA

[sigjocky]

Hello everyone,
I have had a Uniden SQ590 for years then the analog C band started to evaporate and I had to go buy something that would catch "Bits and Bytes".
I bought a 4dtv and hooked thatto my 10 Ft Scientific Atlanta dish with a Cal Amp Co Roter and Low Noise C LNB.
So far so good.
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Then I started reading about all the fun you guys were having with FTA.
I just purchased a Coolsat 8000 HD TS Combo.
I thought all I would have to do is point the 4D at G4 (99*) switch to the 8000 and do a scan of that bird and magic would happen.
All I get is a message that it has nothing to update.
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So far I can get the Off Air HD local channels (that's a plus)
But not a peep out of the digital sat side of things.
I have an old Cal Amp 31186 KU LNB that I just read "isn't anything to write home about" But if I find a strong sig it should make a picture?
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I think I have the LNB set right at "standard" with a 10750 output.
The book is more than a little vague for using a steerable BUD.

I have trees below G5 West (until winter) and clear sky to W6 East.
I am located in upstate NY.

Right now I am in the state of confusion with a big hole in my knowledge base tyeing this mess all together.
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I don't even know where there is a KU signal I can test on to see if the KU is working at all let alone where to start on C band.
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I have been reading until my eyes are starting to bleed.
One more time please how do I get started here.
Thanks in advance guys,

 

[turbosat]

DO you know if your lnb is working for sure-can you get any video on your old analog setup? The 590 does c and ku. You're a day late for looking for analog ku feeds , as they are rare nowadays, but on Saturdays during football season you can sometimes find college games in analog on sev diff sats. I would connect the ku lnb coax back to the 590, aim at 97 or 103 and see if anything pops in. There's not much full time analog on ku any more due to cheaper digital transmission. G11 ku, AMC5 ku during the week would be good to check around 4pm-5pm while the stations are beaming up their news stories, some of them will be analog sometimes.
You won't get any of the HD Digicipher channels of course, on the Coolsat.
There are some nbc feeds in HD on AMC1 ku though, scan it if you think you are tracking the sat arc ok. Test patterns and some network stuff there, digital and both SD and HD. Hope that helps for starters.
edit to add : Remember , you may have to bump your big dish a bit east or west of where you find the c-band signals, esp on C/ku satellites, ku is much more critical when it comes to being aimed correctly.

 

[sigjocky]

Thank you very much.
I only mentioned the KU to see of the thing works at all.
For some reason I thought I had to get the KU working.
I didn't realize that most of the FTA is C band.

I have a meter inline and I dip it right down as far as it will go.
Crystal clear on G4 16 and 17.
I was just wondering about a specific place to start.
I just installed a new high stab lnb.

I am shying away from any reoccurring monthly cost as retirement is looming on the horizon but we do have some ala cart with NPS.
I just don't know how to do the scanning part but I will try it again .
I keep thinking I am missing some setting.
Thanks again this seems like a great group of guys,

 

[turbosat]

Just takes some patience-you'll get it. There is probably just as much available on ku digital as there is on c-band digital, I started out on the KU side and am just now beginning to find there IS a lot to see on C-band, haha. You'll like Gal10 ku side for the RTN stations on the vertical side (123degrees) lots of old shows from 70's and 80's. Read the FAQ section here also, lots of help avail.

 

[duchen]

Bud Fta

I have Coosat 8000hd "daisy chained" to my 4dtv; here are some suggestions.

First, (particularly for KU) make sure lnb is being powered. In my setup, the lnb is set to 13v/18v. Make sure to do this for each satellite. If the lnb does not power, the 8K will tell you there is nothing to find.

Second, the Coolsat does not have a blind scan. So, after you scan in channels, you will need to go to charts to locate others.

I suggest (http://www.global-cm.net/MPEGlistCBandUS.html). They also list KU band. Also, FTAlist.com. For sports backhauls, check out the Yahoo backhaul group.(http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/backhaul/)

Lyngat is a comprehensive chart.

There is a ton of stuff to find, on C Band and KU band. There are a few HD channels. There are backhaul HD channels, too.

One difference with analog is that you need for the signal at coordinates to be "active" to scan and lock it in.

Using 4DTV designations, I suggest scanning Cband G3, G4, W1 and W4. On the KU side, XO, B6 and the KU side of G6 (K6 on my system).

 

[voomvoom]

If your feedhorn has a polarotor (servo motor), then you will have to change the channel on the 4dtv to get the polarity to change. Otherwise, you will only scan one side of the equation. Also, it's my understanding that the CS 8000 doesn't have "Blind Scan", so you may (probably) have to manually enter the frequencies to get them to scan. Here is another site for transponder frequencies:
http://www.lyngsat.com/

Good Luck sigjockey, and Welcome to the Forum !

Al

 

[duchen]

Use the Analog Receiver to "fix" on satellites

If possible, use your analog receiver to locate satellites. The 4DTV has that "blackout" feature where there is static or weaki signals ad that makes it harder to use.

 

[sigjocky]

You know folks,
Right about now I wish I had a separate position motor controller with a skew controller.
Maybe a computer driven display with arc position and elevation, displayed in degrees.
Something like they have for locating stars with a telescope.
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I have a hunch I don't know what I am doing with all the sub menus when I switch to the CS 8000.
I can't get the scan to populate the list with anything to select for watching.
The instructions say select from the list.
There isn't any.
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I select and peak (with a meter) G4 on the 4D .I Get a great picture.
Switch over to the 8000 (I am using pass through for the moment) and select G4 "C" band side and do an auto scan

What LNB do I tell it I have ? I have been trying standard with a 10750 LO.
Is it asking for the C LNB or the KU LNB (Or depends on what you have bird you have selected to scan) I believe they output the same.
Sure wish I had known about "blind scan" before I bought this rcvr.
Live and learn.
I an so embarrassed and as you can see from my avatar pic. I work with this stuff every day just a different jargon and different equipment.

I know I don't know just how the equip combination I have set up works.
I'll just have to drop back and keep reading.
I just got a thought Is the pass through enabled all the time?

Thanks for the patience.

 

[duchen]

C band lnb setting should be 5150

If I am reading what you wrote correctly, you are using a C/KU system and have attached a Coolsat 8000. The Coolsat is daisy chained or slaved to the 4DTV. That (basically) is my system.

If I am reading you right, the C band LNB should be set to 5150; it is progrmmed into the Coolsat. Just hit "standard" and it will offer you the choices. If you are not getting C band channels, it is probably because you set the lnb to 10750.

The KU lnb should be set to 10750.

You can get a blind scan to go with your system. I ordered a Traxis 3500 to use blind scan. Nice unit; RCA (Yellow cable) video only, with stero and optical difital sound connectors. But it augments thye Coolsat nicely. Shop around as they are reasonably priced.

Once you get the Coolsat set up to register signal, look at the online charts everyone has posted. Then, you can go to manual input and input the parameters for channels which are not included in the preset scans.

Are you using a Diseq switch for the C/KU inputs? If so, make sure on the "DISH" set up that you correctly identify the number of the port connected to C band and KU band.

Also, if you are "splitting" the signal from the 4DTV, make sure it is a high frequence splitter.

Don't get discouraged. Everyone new to this thinks they are making stupid mistakes. Everyone here in here to help! We all want the hobby to grow.

You are not far off and have asked the right question. Even with blind scan, you need to input the correct settings for the lnb.